On Monday, August 21, 2023, the Faculty of Education hosted an open lecture, "Online Training for Chief Coordinators of Special Needs Education."

There are four divisions at special needs schools in Japan. They are kindergarten, elementary, junior and senior high schools. Chief coordinators (schoolteachers) are assuming important roles in coordinating between school managers and teachers. However, training dedicated to such chief coordinators have not been conducted yet and enhancement of their professional skills has been a major challenge for all concerned for years. To meet the goals stipulated by international treaties advocating the protection of rights of people with disabilities, enhancement of professional skills of people working for special needs schools is considered one of the most important agendas for the Japanese government today.

In 2021, the National Institute for School Teachers and Staff Development and the Graduate School for Teaching Profession, Gifu University jointly developed a training program to increase school management skills of chief coordinators. Since its launching, the training has been conducted regularly in the form of an open lecture. This program's final goal is to raise the level of professional skills of educators in Gifu Prefecture.

Twenty chief coordinators sent from special needs schools in Gifu Prefecture attended the training. Five of them who completed the program last year served as facilitators for the training.

First, lectures were given regarding school and division management at special needs schools. This was followed by a group discussion to practice problem-solving. Members of five groups drafted a reform plan in line with their school management policies and clarified what they have learned from the first semester and goals for the second semester in 2023.

The participants will review their performances for division management and make a presentation on their achievement and future challenges at a follow-up training held on Thursday, December 21, 2023.